Car-axle lubricator



(No Medel.) 2 sheets-sheet 1.

C..A. WESTERVELT v8v J. P. WAL'TERS.

GAR AXLE LUBRIGATOR.

Ne. 532,618..v Peteeted Jee. 15. 1895.

| l l l I J II (No lV-Iodel.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. G.,A.`WESTERVBLT 8v J.P. WALTERS.

GAB. AXLE LUBRIGATOR.

NrrED STATES VATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES A. WESTERVELT AND JAMES P. WALTERS, OF UHRICHSVILLE, OHIO.

CAR-AX LE LU BRICATO R.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 532,618, dated January15, 1895.

Application filed August 20, 1894. Serial No. 520,842. (No model.)

. the following is a specification.

`In common with our improvements .in centrifugal and centripetallubricators set forth f in two previous specifications forming part ofapplications for United States Letters Patent iiled respectively the 4thday of April, 1894, and the 20th day of July, 1894, and seriallynumbered respectively 506,339 and 518,143, this invention relates tomeans for automatically and economically oiling rotary axles and thelike by utilizing centrifugal and centripetal forces.

The present invention consists in an improved car-axle lubricator,constructed in part on the same principle as the lubricators set forthin said previous specifications, together with certain novel features ofconstruction, as hereinafter set forth and claimed.

The objects of this invention are to embody our system -of centrifugaland centripetal lubrication in car-axle boxes; to insure the effectiveapplication of the oil to the bottom of the axle spindle; to Whollydispense with fibrous material Within the box; and to render the partsof the improved box as few and simple as practicable.

Two sheets of drawings accompany this specification as part thereof.

On Sheet 1, Figure 1 represents a vertical longitudinal section throughthe box proper or shell of a car-axle box embodying the presentimprovement, showing the axle, brass, under brass or cellar, andcellar-supporting spring in elevation; and Fig. 2 is a half topview ofthe improved box. On Sheet 2, Fig. 3 is an end view of the improved box.Fig. 4 is an elevation of the oil-elevator detached. Fig. 5 is across-section on the line 5-5 Fig. 4; and Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are detailviews of said cellar of the improved box detached.

ings of iron or other suitable metal in any approved Way; B, itscustomary brass, which, forming no part of the present invention, may beof any ordinary or improved construction; and O an oil-holding cellarcorresponding generally in its lubricating functions with the singlebrass set forth in the last of our previous specifications aforesaid. Iv

In common with the lubricators set forth in said previousspecifications, the present lubricator comprises a revolvingoil-elevator D carried by the axle E. Said oil-elevator is inclosed by ahousing, preferably integral with the shell, forming at bottom anoil-chamber o., and provided at its sides with opentopped oil-pockets,b, into which the oil is directly thrown by said oil-elevator, and fromwhich it Hows, through centripetal passages c, into contact with thesurfacesto be lubricated.

In the present lubricator the body of the shell A is conveniently asingle casting, and ts outer or front end, shown at thel right in Figs.1 and 2 and in the foreground in Fig. 3, is formed by a flat end-plateF, provided, in common with said body of the shell, with lugs -1 throughwhich screw-bolts 2 extend to attach said end-plate oil-tight. Said'end-plate is provided with an inlet-opening 3, and with a three-sidedframe 4 for a vertically sliding lid G, having a suitable handle 5 bywhich to elevate it to open the box for the introduction of oil intosaid chamber a. The side-pockets b and centripetal passages c are formedat midheight Within the one-part body of the shell A, and saidcentripetal passages are closed at their inner ends z and provided atbottom With drip-holes6 Which extendthrough depending projections @c forconcentrating the drip; and said projections 0o overhang lateralprojections?, formed on the cellar O to receive the drip of oil fromsaid centripetal passages. Said lateralprojections 7 are hollow at top,and communicate with an open-topped end-chamber 8 of said cellar G, intowhich the end flange or button 9 of the axle-spindle dips, as in Figs. 1and 3', and from which the oil flows through an orifice l0 into theopentopped main chamber 1l of the cellar. The respective ends of saidchamber ll are formed by a pair` of bridges 12 and 13. The first ofthese bridges, marked 12, is provided with IOC e reame said orifice 10;and the two bridges are notched to lit the reduced axle-spindle. 13ehindthe rear bridge 13 and parallel therewith an oil-arresting bar 14notched to contact with the unreduced portion of the axle E, and anend-bar 15 notched to clear the axle are separated from each other andfrom said bridge 13 by spaces 16. These spaces extend through the cellarfrom top to bottom, and serve to return to the chamber a., by way of therecess 17 within the body of the shell A, the oil which would otherwisetend to escape at the rear opening 18 of the box; and a dependingprojection 19, integral with said endbar 15, masks said opening 18 atbottom, as in Fig. 1. Said opening 18 will be closed at top by asuitable dust-guard, for which a pocket 20, Figs. 1 and 2, is provided.

A central spiral spring H, embracing studs 21 and 22 formed respectivelyon the bottom of the cellar C and on the iioorof said recess 17,supports the cellar C, and presses said bridges l2 and 13 and saidoil-arresting bar 14 into contact with the axle E; while the revolutionsof the oil-elevatoi-D and the agitation of the oil within the cellar Cinsure the ample lubrication of the spindle as long as the car may be inmotion, provided there is enough oil in the box to be acted on by saidoil-elevator.

For the purposes of the invention the oilelevator D may be of anyapproved construction. It is preferably constructed, as shown, with apair of diametrically opposite blades 23 projecting from au axiallydrilled hub 24, through which a tap-bolt 25 is screwed into the'end ot'the axle-spindle to attach the oilelevator.

What is known as a centrifugal wheel, as set forth in the first of saidprevious speciiications, may for example be substituted for the form ofoil-elevator shown at D as above. The rear openings 18 may be closed atbottom as well as at top by a suitable dust-guard; and other likemodifications will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art.

Te do not claim herein, broadly, in combination with an oil-elevatorrevolving with the axle, a housing for said oil-elevator havingopen-topped oil-pockets within it at its sides on a level with the axleinto which the oil is thrown centrifugally by said oil-elevator, andhorizontal or substantially horizontal passages leading from suchside-pockets through which the oil flows centripetally to the axle, asthis combination is claimed in our specification forming part of anotherapplication for patent led the 20th day of July, 1894, Serial No.518,143.

Having thus described the said improvenient, we claim as our inventionand desire to patent under thisspeciiication l. An improved car-axlelubricator comprisin g an oil-chamber at the end of the axlespindle,open-topped oil-pockets at the sides of said chamber, an oil-elevatorrevolving with the axle and discharging the oil centrifugally into saidpockets direct, centripetal passages leading from such side-pockets, andan open-topped cellar having lateral projections which receive the oilfrom said passages, an end-chamber in communication therewith into whichthe bottom of the axlespindle dips, a main chamber beneath theaxle-spindle into which the oil ilows from said end-chamber, and a spacebehind said mainchamber extending vertically through the cellar,substantially as hereinbefore specified.

2. In a car-axle lubricator, the combination of an oil-elevatorrevolving with the axle and discharging the oil centrifugally, a housingforsaid oil-elevator havingopen-topped pockets within it at its sidesinto which the oil is directly thrown by said oil-elevator, centripetaloil-passages leading from said pockets to vertical drip-holes formed atbottom within depending projections, and an open-topped cellar,immediately beneath the axle-spindle, having lateral projections whichare overhung by said depending projections,substan tially ashereinbefore specified.

3. The combination in a car-axle lubricator of an oil-elevator revolvingwith the axle and discharging the oil centrifugally, a housing for saidoil-elevator having open-topped pockets within it at its sides intowhich the oil is directly thrown by said oil-elevator, centrpetaloil-passages leading from said pockets, au open-topped cellar receivingthe oil from said eentripetal passages and constructed with bridgesnotched to tit the reduced axle-spindle and with an oil-arresting bariitted to the unreduced portion of the axle, and a spring which supportssaid cellar and presses said bridges and said oil-arresting bar intocontact with the axle, substantially as hereinbefore specified.

4. In combination with an oil-elevator revolving with a car-axle, and ahousing for said oil-elevator having pockets at its sides into which theoil is thrown centrifugally by said oil-elevator and centripetaloil-passages leading from said pockets, an open-topped cellar receivingthe oil from said centripetal passages and applying the same to theaxlespindle, such cellar being constructed with bridges notched to t thereduced axlespindie and with an oil-arresting bar fitted to theunreduced portion of the axle and separated from the rear bridge by aspace extending vertically through the cellar, substantially ashereinbefore specified.

CHARLES A. VVESTERVEL'I. JAMES P. WALTERS.

Witnesses:

GEO. S. EVANS, HOWARD A. LEY.

IOC

